The guests and crew of National Geographic Quest experienced an incredible day. We woke up surrounded by Yosemite-like landscapes in Tracy Arm, within the Terror Wilderness. Huge ice-covered rock faces towered overhead, teal blue waters sparkled below, and unlimited possibilities filled our guests’ imaginations. The sunny blue skies made the ice dance before us. What a surprise! We zoomed over to South Sawyer Glacier, where we saw numerous harbor seal moms with their new pups, a harbor porpoise, and too many cascades to count. After an unbelievable morning, we cruised out of the fjord to a place called the Hole in the Wall, a gorgeous waterfall with a hole right in the middle. We gathered around the bow and listened to our on-board geologist discuss what might have created this hole. We watched a coastal brown bear move through the grass before ending our night by eating dinner with the company of humpback whales.
9/4/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Kelp Bay and Hidden Falls
It was drizzling a bit as we made our way to the scenic anchorage at Kelp Bay. Through the drizzle, we were excited to see a sow brown bear with her two cubs fishing for salmon in the stream! It was a fantastic start to an amazing day. Our guests went on some beautiful hikes through the dense temperate rainforest, which had the fresh scent of rain and evergreens. One of the hikes led to a muskeg and a huge beaver pond. It was worth the effort to get there. During lunch, we repositioned National Geographic Quest to a bay near Hidden Falls where there is a salmon hatchery. At the hatchery, the air buzzed with activity as brown bears, Steller sea lions, and birds feasted on the salmon schooling at the fish ladder. The massive bears of varying ages and sizes stood poised to strike at the wriggling fish. They snatch their prey in their powerful paws and jaws. This time of year, the bears are hyper focused on feeding, so they can replenish their reserves before their winters sleep. Our viewing of the bears was a thrilling reminder of nature’s raw and untamed beauty.